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Failed Back Syndrome and Neurosomatic Therapy

Yes, they call it Failed Back Syndrome (FBS). An interesting name, since this diagnosis is only given after spinal surgery has been performed.

Much as is sounds, Failed Back Surgery Syndrome is present in people who have had back surgery.

The pain experienced with FBS often manifests as deep aching or sharp specific pain, nerve pain (such as tingling, numbness and burning), and/or superficial hypersensitivity of the skin.

Postural distortion originating from either muscular imbalance or structural asymmetries is completely overlooked as the root cause of pathologies in the lumbar spine.

Postural distortion that led to the patient's original back pain was either not detected or not addressed.

Correcting postural distortion is the most fundamental principal of Neurosomatic Therapy.

Symptoms of Failed Back Syndrome

This syndrome is also sometimes referred to as Failed Back Surgery Syndrome (FBSS) or Postlaminectomy Syndrome. No matter what it's called, the result is chronic, often debilitating, low back and/or leg pain. The pain experienced with FBS often manifests as deep aching or sharp specific pain, nerve pain (such as tingling, numbness and burning), and superficial hypersensitivity of the skin. These symptoms can be severe enough to disable a patient and are often treated with opioid medications. Studies have shown patients suffering from FBS suffer greater levels of pain and lower quality of life and function than those that suffer from common chronic pain syndromes such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and complex regional pain syndrome. In addition to the physical pain associated with FBS, there is also tremendous psychological distress associated with this type of chronic pain, with depression often being a major outcome of FBS.

Causes of Failed Back Syndrome

Why does FBS develop? Patients that end up with FBS tend to fall into two categories: those with cases where the surgery was never appropriate or was never likely to produce the desired result, and those with cases where the surgery was indicated but the procedure performed was incomplete or inadequate. A lack of understanding of the source of the initial pain is a problem for both categories. Surgical errors- operating on the wrong structure or inattentiveness to other variables- seems to be a key factor in the second category. In case after case, we find that postural distortion originating from either muscular imbalance or structural asymmetries is completely overlooked as the root cause of pathologies in the lumbar spine. Some pathologies have been identified by the medical community as the cause of FBS pain: recurrent disc herniation, spinal stenosis, scar tissue formation inside and outside the dural membrane, infection and damage to nerves during the surgical procedure. While Neurosomatic Therapy can do little for the infections and nerve damage mentioned above, it can have profound effects on disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and scar tissue.

Advanced Non-Surgical Treatment for FBS

As stated above, the characteristics of FBS are pretty straightforward: Chronic low back and/or leg pain following a spinal surgery. As the name Postlaminectomy Syndrome would suggest, the symptoms associated with the syndrome are manifested after a laminectomy operation. However, our experience tells us that FBS can occur after other kinds of spinal surgeries as well. The therapists at the St. John-Clark Pain Treatment Center successfully treated many cases of FBS and the analysis is always the same: Postural distortion that led to the patient’s original back pain was either not detected or not addressed. Correcting postural distortion is the most fundamental principal of Neurosomatic Therapy. Successfully applying this principal offers hope to those suffering from FBS.

Call Today to Schedule Your Initial Evaluation

Call (727) 347-HEAL (4325) to let one of our expert therapists answer any questions you may have regarding failed back surgery syndrome or, contact us with additional questions you may have.

'My daughter has a condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy. For 8 years I watched my daughter in chronic pain. She can't go to movies or concerts because the sound vibrations would increase her pain levels. (After treatment) she was able to get her nails done without the files hurting. This is a direct quote 'Mom, I feel like a different person. I'm normal again.' It's a miracle!'